Today I was talking with a friend about church stuff…I’ve been thinking of this analogy for a while, but hadn’t really processed it much.
I’ve been thinking a lot (a lot) about what sustainable movements look like and what it takes to be sustainable. In the process I’ve been thinking about what sustainable isn’t. The image that came to mind was of seedless grapes. A seedless grape is convenient, tastes the same, and looks the same…but there is one major difference: it can’t reproduce. If a seedless grape is the last grape on the planet…it has no chance of reproducing. If a seedless grape falls to the ground and dies…that’s all there is to it.
A grape with a seed has all the DNA tucked inside of it to create more grapes. If a grape with seeds dies there is a chance that many more grapes will be able to grow.
The critical difference is that a seedless grape is missing the part that can actually make a difference to the sustainability of the fruit…it’s missing the DNA. A movement cannot be sustainable if the DNA is lost. This is the biggest threat to Christianity not being sustainable for generations to come…becoming seedless grapes.
My prayer is that we as a movement will rediscover the DNA of following Christ that makes faith in Jesus so potent and culture changing.
If you are curious as to thinking more about this subject I would check out the book The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch. He does a great study of the first century Church and the underground Church in China; two movements that have possessed this radical DNA.
A most interesting analogy Justin. I have never considered the look vs. lack aspect of our lives without the necessary ’seed’ to impact others. Often we focus so much on the ‘look’ (being all put together) that our character no longer develops into the DNA (lack) for which we were designed. Once again, another thought provoking post. (and I love the picture of the grapes from my family’s vineyard in Germany!). I won’t look at grapes the same again!
There are many Christians and congregations who once were seeded grapes, and sometimes its easier to bit rid of the elements which may be “seeds” capable of growth and reproduction.